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Cycling holidays in England

country:England
location:Shropshire, Lake District, North York Moors, Northern England, Northumberland 
trip type:Introductory to challenging cycling holidays
departures:2009: 18 Sep
price:From £235 - £375 (2-5 days) excluding flights. Price depends on trip chosen, see below for details
vouchers:Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday
read 1 travellers review
the amazing things you'll be doing
A range of cycling breaks for all those looking to explore some of the England's classic countryside by bike on quiet roads, traffic free paths & National Cycle Network routes.

Accommodation is in well-appointed bed and breakfasts, inns or small family-run hotels. Breakfasts are provided and evening meals taken in restaurants or pubs close to the accommodation. Group departures have vehicle support and include hearty picnic lunches!

If you can't find a date to suit or want to go it alone, there are self-guided options (minimum two people). Please contact us for details.

We can also add a one or two day City Break in London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Newcastle, Durham, Bath or Stratford upon Avon onto our UK holidays.
cycling holidays
Coast to Coast - Whitehaven to Newcastle (Moderate to adventurous cycling)
2009: 12 Jun, 17 Jul, 14 Aug. £375 (5 days)
This ‘must-do’ trip on quiet country lanes, cycleways and paths is a wonderful way to see the varied and beautiful landscapes of northern England, on the National Cycle Network route from the Irish Sea across to the North Sea. After dipping our back wheel in the sea at Whitehaven, we head eastwards into the solitude and space of the Lake District, Cumbria and the North Pennines. The trip is well-paced and ends 140 miles later as we cross the fabulous millennium bridge in Newcastle before dipping our front wheel in the North Sea at Tynemouth to celebrate our achievement. Self guided options available.

Hadrian’s Cycle Way Self Guided (Introductory to moderate cycling)
2009: self guided. £295
This coast-to-coast holiday boasts craggy highlands, atmospheric countryside, peaceful river valleys and a finish in the vibrant city of Newcastle upon Tyne. We travel gently along the boundary of the Old Roman Empire, starting and finishing at either end of Hadrian’s Wall. Using quiet country lanes and cycle paths you will be able to follow in the footsteps of Roman soldiers including a visit to the Roman fort of Vindolanda, whilst experiencing some of the rich heritage that Cumbria and Northumberland have to offer. We arrange accommodation, luggage transfers and provide you with route notes and maps to cycle the routes at your own pace. Group trip also available.

Hadrian’s Cycleway group trip
2009: 24 Jul, 04 Sep. £325
classic road rides
Classic Road Weekend – Cotswolds Beginners (Introductory to moderate cycling)
2009: 17 Apr. £235 (2 days)
Our Cotswolds weekends are designed to give you a great introduction to road riding. You’ll have the opportunity to try one of our high end road bikes, ride in a small bunch, learn the tricks of the trade, and get to ride in some of England’s finest scenery too. For those of you who’ve always fancied the idea of sampling the delights of rustling through the wind Lance Armstrong style, this is your chance!

Classic Road Weekend – Cotswolds (Moderate cycling)
2009: 18 Sep. £235 (2 days)
Quintessentially English, the Cotswolds are best explored by bike. This weekend takes you through the beautiful Cotswolds countryside, along country lanes with sweeping views, quiet hamlets and picturesque villages steeped in history. This weekend starts and finishes in the village of Moreton in Marsh, with its excellent train connections from London. The routes we've chosen are generally rolling so the weekend is suitable for relative novices but with the odd stiff climb thrown in here and there to test the old legs, there's always something to keep the more experienced rider interested.

Classic Road Weekend - Lake District (Introductory to moderate cycling)
2009: 01 May. £295 (2 days)
Kirkstone, Honister, Newlands, Whinlatter, Hardknott and Wrynose. These are the 6 most notorious passes in the Lake District National Park and the basis for one of the toughest cycle sportive events in the UK. Whilst participants in the Fred Whitton Challenge will tackle all of these in a single 122 mile day, our brand new, place to place, long weekend gives you 3 whole days to enjoy some superb and challenging riding. We’ve introduced this trip with climbers and experienced riders in mind and it will suit anyone who likes their riding on the tough side.

Fells, forests, remote Lakeland villages and of course the lakes themselves create a stunning backdrop for some of the best riding to be had without leaving our shores. This is dramatic riding in a dramatic landscape and it really doesn’t get much better. We’ve kept the daily distances relatively low due to the amount of tough climbing over the 3 days. However the Lake District offers many miles of fantastic riding and there’s plenty more to choose from for riders in need of an extra loop or two. This is the ideal weekend for testing the water prior to joining one of our bigger trips or simply as a great getaway.

Classic Road Weekend - South Shropshire (Introductory to moderate cycling)
2009: 07 Aug £235 (2 days)
The numerous back roads and lanes of historic South Shropshire offer some of the finest and most varied riding in the country. Endless traffic-free rolling roads, castles, mountains and charming country villages all feature on our Church Stretton-based weekend. This is an ideal taster weekend, or a perfect refreshing break in a truly picturesque and history laden slice of old England, and one which has escaped the wrath of mass tourism and its inevitable heavy traffic.

Shropshire beginners weekend
2009: 12 Jun. £235 (2 days)
For those of you who’ve always fancied the idea of sampling the delights of rustling through the wind Lance Armstrong style, this is your chance! The numerous back roads and lanes of historic South Shropshire offer some of the finest and most varied riding in the country. Endless traffic-free rolling roads, castles, mountains and charming country villages all feature on our Church Stretton-based weekend.

Our Beginners weekends are designed to give you a great introduction to road riding. You’ll have the opportunity to try one of our well equipped modern lightweight road bikes, ride in a small bunch, learn the tricks of the trade, and get to ride in some of England’s finest scenery too. If you have recently taken up road cycling, are looking to get off your mountain bike and onto the road or are interested in turning your morning cycle commute into something a bit more fun then this is the weekend for you.
travellers' tales
The cycling holiday I booked on was extremely well organised, from initial booking to the event itself. The organiser and two guides were skilled, courteous and friendly. Accommodation was good. A very reputable company (more)
this tourism business was Highly Commended
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how this holiday makes a difference
Global adventures start with a local perspective – that's the our philosophy. Whether abroad, or just as importantly at home, the start point is the same; how to get the most enjoyable holiday for our customers while benefiting the local people, economy and respecting the environment.

Cycling is a great way to explore the countryside, travelling at a speed that enables you to take in the surroundings without damaging the environment. In each of our locations, such as the Derbyshire White Peak and Dorset, we use local guides, small independent B&B's, guest houses and hotels to ensure that the money stays in the local economy. Where we provide food we aim to use locally produced product.

We provide travellers with Travellers Codes that encourage the reduction of water usage, systems for collecting, recycling or safe disposal of litter and relevant suggestions to minimise damage to the environment, wildlife and marine ecosystems. All our holidays have a maximum group size of 12 to 15 people minimising both the social and environmental impact. We work with and support Sustrans and the development of the excellent National Cycle Network and use these routes for our UK Cycling Breaks.

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